The First to Die at the End (Death-Cast #0)(66)

I do some counting. “Three swear words in ten seconds. Well done.”

“That’s fucking nothing, but thanks. What you got?”

As someone so open today, I grew up so caged. There were so many things I was never allowed to say. I couldn’t swear. I couldn’t question God. I couldn’t talk about my crushes. Then I came out of the closet, and my parents wanted me to go right back in. But Orion isn’t asking me to filter my thoughts or feelings. He’s asking me to release everything.

Standing on a street corner in New York City, I feel the word bubbling up, and I throw open my arms and shout, “I’M FUCKING FREE!”

Orion takes my picture. “Great fucking choice!”

Before I can thank him, a window slams open above us and a man pokes his head out. “Shut the fuck up!”

I’m so embarrassed that I’m frozen.

Orion snaps another picture before dragging me away, laughing. “Your first time getting told to shut the fuck up in the city. You’ve been christened as a real New Yorker.”

I might find that photograph funnier after my heart has calmed down a bit.

Orion holds on to my wrist as we go down the street and only lets go when we find ourselves somewhere that looks abandoned. There’s something suspicious about how peaceful this is. Just empty cars underneath these overhead train tracks. Orion starts going up the stairs slowly, and he picks up the speed a little bit. I try getting him to slow down, but he ignores me. He seems to be enjoying this moment where a simple activity doesn’t feel life-threatening. Just because he won’t die from a heart attack doesn’t mean he won’t slip on these stairs and fall back into me. I hold on to the railing for dear life, and Orion is waiting at the top with the biggest smile.

Once I’m up there, I can’t believe my eyes.

This train station is a forest. Bright green bushes and flowers are basking in the morning sunlight. Right where the train tracks should be is a pathway that’s been paved clean. I’m staring at everything in confusion when Orion snaps a picture of me.

“How does this train station operate?”

“It’s no longer a train station. It’s a park called the High Line.”

It’s not ringing a bell. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“It opened last summer. There’s more to come, but they have huge plans to grow this park. I thought you should see what they got so far.”

This city is so huge that even someone who’s been excited to move here didn’t know about this place. What other wonders are out there that I’ll never see? Not even just in the city or the state or the country. The whole world. I kind of wish I could go into space and do a lap around the planet. Then I could say I saw it all. I can’t imagine NASA is going to launch a Decker into space unless it’s a suicide mission, so I’m going to enjoy this slice of the world I never even knew existed.

“It’s really gorgeous,” I say as we walk down the pathway.

“And kind of creepy too, right? Like we’re on the set for some postapocalyptic movie.”

“What made you think to bring me here of all places?”

“Don’t punch me in the face, but I thought it might inspire you on your End Day.”

“In what way?”

“Way back when, this area was called Death Avenue. Hundreds and hundreds of people were getting straight wrecked by the trains, it was bad. It got to a point where they—I don’t remember who they were, but someone—hired fucking cowboys to stop people from trying to cross the tracks. Like, legit dudes on horses.”

“You’re making this up!”

“I shit you not! They—again, I don’t know who they are—decided to elevate the tracks. Then the rest is kind of a blur.”

“Pardon my English, but you’re a shitty historian.”

Orion laughs. “I’m not trying to compete on Jeopardy! or anything.”

“Alex Trebek would have you banned for answering every question with a swear word.”

“For fucking real.”

I stumble onto the train tracks, the plants growing around them like a garden bed.

This place is really something.

“You still haven’t told me how this is supposed to inspire me today.”

“I was about to before you started hating on my storytelling.”

“I apologize for expecting you to be a know-it-all. I guess everyone needs a flaw.”

“My heart is a pretty huge flaw.”

“It won’t be for much longer.”

Then we’re just two boys who are silent as we continue crossing this postapocalyptic, retired train line. There’s no one else in sight, almost like the world wants us to be present in our future. I listen to the wind and my thoughts, which are both depressing and uplifting. I might not be around to laugh for much longer, but Orion will be if all goes well. It will go well. I’m putting my full faith into that; whatever that means these days.

Orion stops and stares at the plants emerging between the train tracks. “This is my first time here too. I wanted to visit last summer when everything was super fresh, but my heart got in the way. I spent the day at the hospital instead. I took it as a sign that I shouldn’t try to go somewhere that was known as Death Avenue. But I was just remembering how the High Line was supposed to be demolished. Just straight wiped from the city until people in the neighborhood fought for it to find new life and it got turned into this dope park.” Orion looks at me with his hazel eyes. “I hate that you’re dying, Valentino, but I want you to remember that everything isn’t over just because you’re a Decker. I’m going to keep fighting through whatever your End Day throws your way to turn your life into something beautiful.”